The Roku Channel review

The Roku Channel takes third place because it asks for nothing up front: Roku's Google Play listing says you can watch with no subscription, credit card or Roku account. On Android phones, tablets and Google TV it now lives in the Roku App (Official), which streams thousands of ad-supported movies and TV series, including Roku Originals, plus 500+ free live TV channels organized in a Live TV Guide. Signing in to a free Roku account adds Continue Watching across devices and a Save List. The app also lets you subscribe to, bundle and manage 70+ paid services, which is handy if you later add a premium channel. On iPhone, The Roku Channel plays inside the Roku mobile app, and Roku states this works in the US and Mexico only. The Android listing shows 5M+ downloads and a 4.0 star rating. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not stream test titles.

Who it is for

Roku owners and Android users who want free movies plus 500+ live channels

Price

Free with ads; no subscription, credit card or Roku account required.

Watch an incredible selection of entertainment with no subscription, credit card, or Roku account required.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Thousands of ad-supported movies and TV series on demand
• 500+ free live TV channels with a Live TV Guide
• Roku Originals not found elsewhere
• Continue Watching across devices when signed in to a Roku account
• Save List for movies and shows to watch later

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: No subscription, credit card or Roku account needed to watch
• Strength: Runs on Android phones, tablets and Google TV as well as Roku devices
• Strength: Option to subscribe to and manage 70+ paid services in the same app
• Weakness: On iPhone, Roku says The Roku Channel plays in the mobile app only in the US and Mexico
• Weakness: Google Play rating is 4.0 stars from 4.51K reviews
• Weakness: The Android app is now listed as Roku App (Official), which can be confusing to find

Key facts

• Google Play: 4.0 stars, 4.51K reviews, 5M+ downloads
• Live channels: 500+
• Paid add-ons: 70+ subscriptions
• Android app name: Roku App (Official)
• iPhone availability: US and Mexico in the Roku mobile app

Where it ranks

The Roku Channel is No. 3 in our Best Free Movie Streaming Apps verdict.